Polymer boat shoe with drainage holes and a gripping sole

ABSTRACT

A boat shoe having an upper and an outsole is provided. The upper includes a bottom and a sidewall forming a foot cavity sized to receive a foot in between. The upper is formed of a first polymer and includes a plurality of drainage holes formed through the sidewall near an edge joining the bottom and the sidewall. The outsole includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is adhered to the bottom of the upper by an adhesive. The outsole is formed of a gripping polymer that grips wet and dry surfaces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/027,086, filed Jul. 21, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to boat shoes and, more particularly, to a boat shoe with drainage holes and a gripping sole.

Boat shoes (also known as deck shoes) are typically canvas or leather with non-marking microplast outsoles designed for use on a boat. A large diagonal tread pattern is designed into the soles to provide grip on a wet surface. Since boat shoes are predominantly made of leather, those shoes do not dry or drain rapidly. Leather absorbs water and odors and takes a full day to dry out.

As can be seen, there is a need for a polymer boat shoe with drainage holes and a gripping sole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, the boat shoe has an upper comprising a bottom and a sidewall forming a foot cavity in between, wherein the upper is formed of a first polymer and comprises a plurality of drainage apertures formed through the sidewall near an edge joining the bottom and the sidewall; and an outsole comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is adhered to the bottom of the upper, wherein the outsole is formed of a gripping polymer.

In another aspect of the present invention, a boat shoe comprises: an upper comprising a bottom and a sidewall forming a foot cavity in between, wherein the upper is formed of a first polymer consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate and comprises a plurality of drainage apertures formed through the sidewall near an edge joining the bottom and the sidewall; and an outsole comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is adhered to the bottom of the upper, wherein the outsole is formed of a gripping polymer consisting of a microplast.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrated without the lace for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a section view of the present invention taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the present invention taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a section view of the present invention taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a back view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes a boat shoe that has a gripping sole and drainage apertures to drain water. The present invention is unique in that it is a Unibody construction of injection molded materials that drains water rapidly and has great grip on wet and dry surfaces. The present invention may include drain holes on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe as well as multiple drain holes on the bottom of the shoe. The present invention works great for water activities such as boating, sailing, pools, and the like due to the gripping of the outsole material which passes OSHA standards.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 11, the present invention includes a boat shoe having an upper 10 and an outsole 16. The upper 10 includes a bottom and a sidewall forming a foot cavity sized to receive a foot in between. The upper 10 is formed of a first polymer and includes a plurality of drainage holes 14 formed through the sidewall near an edge joining the bottom and the sidewall. The outsole 16 includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is adhered to the bottom of the upper 10 by an adhesive 24. The outsole 16 is formed of a gripping polymer that grips wet and dry surfaces.

The upper 10 of the present invention is made of a polymer that repels water, dries fast, is lightweight, soft to touch, comfortable, repels sweat and oils from the feet, is antimicrobial, and has closed cells. For example, the polymer that forms the upper may include ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), a plastic and the like. In certain embodiments, the upper 10 may include a plurality of bottom drainage holes 18 that align with a plurality of bottom drainage holes formed through the outsole 16. Therefore, water 26 may drain from the side and the bottom of the boat shoe. In certain embodiments, a recessed channel may be formed in the sidewall running from each of the drainage holes 14 to the bottom of the upper 10. This further assists the drainage of the water 26 from the drainage holes 14 disposed on the side of the boat shoe. The upper may further include a heel tag 30 attached by an adhesive 24.

In certain embodiments, the upper 10 may further include a tongue. An upper edge may be formed on the sidewall that leads into the foot cavity. A plurality of shoe lace holes 12 may be formed through the tongue and the upper edge of the sidewall. In certain embodiments, a shoe lace 22 made of a polymer, fabric or leather may be interwoven in the plurality of shoe lace holes 12. Therefore, a user 28 may tighten the boat shoe to their foot.

The outsole 16 of the present invention may be made of a gripping polymer, such as a microplastic. This material has advantages over rubber in that it does not become brittle and crack like rubber does with age, especially when used around salt water. The microplastic material also meets OSHA standards for slip resistance in outsole applications for workplace settings of oil, water or oil and mixtures thereof. The outsole 16 is a separate piece from the upper 10 and is adhered to the bottom of the upper 10 by the adhesive 24. As mentioned above, the outsole 16 may include a plurality of bottom drainage holes 18 that align with the bottom drainage holes 18 of the upper 10, allowing water 26 to drain through the bottom of the boat shoe. A unique design of the outsole readily channels water 26 away from the shoe. The bottom surface of the outsole 16 may further include siping pattern. The siping pattern may include counter angled treads. The counter angled treads of the sipping pattern provide a great grip regardless of the angle of force placed on the tread.

A method of making the present invention may include the following. A uniquely designed mold is used and EVA is injected into the mold to create the upper 10. The outsole is then attached to the Unibody upper 10. It is done so by using a special process of heat, ultraviolet chamber prepping of the surface of the EVA and pressure to bond the upper 10 to the outsole 16. Pressure bonding is used with a high grade glue that bonds the two pieces making them inseparable unless the shoe is destroyed.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A boat shoe comprising: an upper comprising a bottom and a sidewall forming a foot cavity in between, wherein the upper is formed of a first polymer and comprises a plurality of drainage apertures formed through the sidewall near an edge joining the bottom and the sidewall; and an outsole comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is adhered to the bottom of the upper, wherein the outsole is formed of a gripping polymer.
 2. The boat shoe of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the upper comprises a plurality of drainage holes that align with a plurality of drainage holes formed through the outsole.
 3. The boat shoe of claim 1, wherein the first polymer consists of ethylene-vinyl acetate and the gripping polymer consists of a microplastic.
 4. The boat shoe of claim 1, further comprising recessed channels running from each of the drainage apertures of the upper to the bottom of the upper.
 5. The boat shoe of claim 1, wherein the outsole comprises a siping pattern formed on the bottom surface.
 6. The boat show of claim 1, wherein the sidewall further forms a tongue, wherein a plurality of shoe lace holes are formed through the tongue and an upper edge of the sidewall.
 7. The boat shoe of claim 6, further comprising a polymer shoe lace interwoven through the plurality of shoe lace holes.
 8. A boat shoe comprising: an upper comprising a bottom and a sidewall forming a foot cavity in between, wherein the upper is formed of a first polymer consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate and comprises a plurality of drainage apertures formed through the sidewall near an edge joining the bottom and the sidewall; and an outsole comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is adhered to the bottom of the upper, wherein the outsole is formed of a gripping polymer consisting of a microplastic.
 9. The boat shoe of claim 8, wherein the outsole comprises a siping pattern formed on the bottom surface.
 10. The boat shoe of claim 8, wherein the bottom of the upper comprises a plurality of drainage holes that align with a plurality of drainage holes formed through the outsole.
 11. The boat show of claim 8, wherein the sidewall further forms a tongue, wherein a plurality of shoe lace holes are formed through the tongue and an upper edge of the sidewall.
 12. The boat shoe of claim 11, further comprising a polymer shoe lace interwoven through the plurality of shoe lace holes. 